Index tab



fea: 28, 1924. 1

y Li STEIN 1,513,136

. IK'NDEX TAB Filednc. v, 1922 Flai FLL-1. L

INVENTUR Lumi 'i1-EIN Patented ct. 28, 1924.

STATES LOUIS STEIN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INDEXV TAB.

Application led December 7, 1922. Serial No. 605,364.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, LOUIS STEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Index Tab, of which the following is a speciiication.

The invention relates to the art of manufacturing tabs for use in supporting index cards upon ling folders and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a tab of extremely simple construction capable of manufacture at a relatively small cost and yet serving to accomplish effectually the purpose for which it is intended.

More specifically stated, the aim is to provide an index tab formed primarily from sheet celluloid, the invention relating more especially to an improved and simplified method of fastening the tab in place upon the edge of a sheet.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration two forms of my invention. Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a filing folder of the type generally known as a desk organizer, and equipped with one form of index tab. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of this form of tab. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of .the parts at one stage of the manufacturing operation. Fig. 4C is a side elevational view of a filing folder having leaves of the same width and provided with index tabs arranged in offset relation. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the plane of line 5`5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar view but showing the tab before it is applied to the edge of the sheet.

My improved tab is made from a piece of transparent celluloid provided with a backing of suitable material and gummed to enable it to be readily secured to the edge of a leaf of a filing folder or the like. yThe form of the tab shown in Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the tab is'secured to the free edge of the leaf or sheet but does not project therefrom,

comprises a piece of celluloid 7 substantially` rectangular in form mounted upon a backing 8. The latter is of similar shape, made of cloth or other suitable material, and has a gummed outer face 8a. The celluloid and its backing are secured together along opposed marginal edges preferably bymeans of stitching 9.

It will be apparent that the tabs may be secured in place upon the free edges of the leaves 10 of a filing folder simply by moistening the gummed surface of the cloth backing and doubling the tab from its flat form, approximately on a line midway between the stitched edgesv thereof, over and upon thek opposite surfaces of the leaf or sheet 10 near the free edge thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. When the tab is thus secured in place, index cards 11 are inserted between the celluloid and the backing, and it will be apparent that inasmuch as the side edges of the latter adhere closely to the surfaces of the sheet 10, whereas the edges of the celluloid are free to bulge upwardly away from the sheet, the operation of inserting the card is greatly facilitated. As shown in Fig. 5 the index tab thus provided serves to retain cards on both sides of the leaf or sheet 10.

In the manufacture of the tabs, the celluloid and the cloth backing are cut into relatively narrow strip form, and the separate strips are then placed in proper face to face relation and secured together along their longitudinal edges. Indeed, the tabs may, if desired, be sold in strip form, in which event the tabs would be severed from the strip when needed. A portion of a completed strip is shown in Fig. 3.

In case the tabs are to project beyond 'the edge of the sheet of the filing folder, a

narrow strip of paper or thin cardboard 13 (Fig. 6) is inserted within the fold of the tab in place of the edge o-f the sheet 10. This strip serves simply to provide a means to which the gummed backing may be secured, leaving the side edges of the celluloid to bulge upwardly, as shown in said figure, to facilitate the insertion of the cards. It will also be seen that this strip is made, somewhat narrower than the cloth of the folded tab, thus leaving projecting edge portions 14., gummed upon their inner sides, for securing the tab upon opposite side faces of the sheet 10.

It will be observed that the index tab which I have thus provided is capable of manufacture o-n a very economical basis; can be quickly and easily attached to the filing folder or other article; and by reason of the ease with which they may be secured in position it is possible to secure their pro-per alinement upon the several leaves of the folder without the exercise of undue precaution.

I claim as my invention; r,

l. An indexftab formed from a sheet of Celluloid, a backing sheet of substantially the same size as the celluloid sheet and secured thereto along parallel edges by stitching, said sheets being bent upon themselves substantially midway between their' fastened edges and the backing being provided with a gummed surface to enable it to be secured lto the leaf or sheet of a filing folder Yor theA like, the stitching at the said opposite edges of the sheet permitting the Celluloid to bulge away from the backing so as to form pockets adapted to receive index tabson one ,or lboth sides of the leaf to which the tab. Ais attached., i 2.'An indexV tab formed from a sheet of Celluloid, a backing'for said sheet secured thereto along parallel edges, said sheets being bent upon themselves substantially midway between their fastened edges and the backing being provided with a gummed surface to enable it to be secured tothe leaor vsheet of a filing folder or the like, and a strip of material inserted between the folded sheet of backing and secured thereto by the adhesive of the backing, said strip being somewhat narrower than the depth of the fold so as to leave projecting portions of the backing with gummedV surfaces for ses curing the tab to the edge of a filling folder or the like. Y y

VIn testimony whereof, I have hereunto aXed my signature.

LOUIS STEIN. 

